remember Vict Indeed Sir I had more Grace than to dispose of my self without your consent and more respect for your Family than to Marry any Man without a Portion Fred. If you please to give a Blessing to our Endeavours We have agreed upon the point to make you a Grandfather Fer. Why that 's well said You have my consent Marry her and I 'll give her a Portion but be sure you are as good as your word Fred. In what Sir Fern. In making me a Grandfather I am so over-joy'd that I am alive again I care not how many Children I have to provide for Vict. You see the fruits of Jealousie Fred. I 'll keep out of Purgatory I warrant you Fer. O don't name it good Son-in-Law I shall never get it out of my mind that 's certain Come my dear Wife and Children I owe my deliverance to your Intercession and Piety since you have brought me to Life again You shall have no cause for the future to wish me Dead Some fifty Years hence I may be contented to go to Heaven without calling by the way In the mean time Husbands who doubt my Story May find in Jealousie their Purgatory Exeunt SCENE II. The Street Biron and Bellford just arrived Bir. The longest Day will have an end We are got home at last Bell. We have got our Legs at Liberty And Liberty is Home where'er we go Thô mine lies most in England Bir. Pray let me call this yours For what I can command in Bruxelles you Shall find your own I have a Father here Who perhaps after Seven Years absence And costing him nothing in my Travels may be glad to see me You know my Story Knocks at the Door How does my Beard become me Bell. Just as you would have it 'T is Natural and not your own Bir. To Morrow you shall be sure to find me here As Early as you please This is the House You have observ'd the Street Bell. I warrant you I han't many Visits To make before I come to you Bir. To Night I have some affairs That will oblige me to be private Bell. A good Bed is the privatest Affair That I desire to be engaged in to Night Your directions will carry me to my Lodgings Exit Biron knocks again Sampson enters to him Samp. Who 's there What would you have Bir. Is your Lady at home Friend Samp. Why truly Friend it is my employment to answer impertinent Questions But for my Ladies being at home or no that 's just as my Lady pleases Bir. But how shall I know whether it pleases her or no Samp. Why if you 'll take my word for it you may carry your Errand back again She never pleases to see any body at this time of Night that she does not know and by the length of your Beard you may be grown out of her remembrance Bir. But I have business and you don't know how that may please her Samp. Nay if you have business she is the best Judge Whether your business will please her or no Therefore I will proceed in my Office And know of my Lady whether or no She is pleas'd to be at home or no Going Nurse enters to them Nurse Who 's that you are so busie withal methinks You might have found out an answer in fewer words But Sampson you love to hear your self prate sometimes As well as your betters that I must say for you Let me come to him who wou'd you speak with Bir. With you Mistress if you can help me to speak to your Lady Nurse Yes Sir I can help you in a civil way But can no body do your business but my Lady Bir. Not so well But if you 'll carry her this Ring She 'll know my business better Nurse There 's no Love-Letter in it I hope You look like a civil Gentleman In an honest way I may bring you an answer Exit Nurse Bir. My old Nurse only a little older They say the Tongue grows always Mercy on me Then hers is seven years longer since I left her Yet there 's something in these Servants folly Pleases me The cautious conduct of the Family Appears and speaks in their impertinence Well Mistress Nurse returns Nurse I have deliver'd your Ring Sir pray Heav'n You bring no bad News along with you Bir. Quite contrary I hope Nurse Nay I hope so too but my Lady was very much surpriz'd when I gave it her Sir I am but a Servant as a body may say but if you 'll walk in that I may shut the Doors for we keep very orderly hours I can show you into the Parlour and help you to an answer perhaps as soon as those that are wiser Exeunt SCENE III. A Bed-Chamber A Woman Servant spreading a Table Isabella Enters Isa. I 've heard of Witches Magick Spells and Charms that have made Nature start from her old course The Sun has been Eclips'd the Moon drawn down from her career still paler and subdu'd to the abuses of this under World Now I believe all possible This Ring this little Ring with Necromantick force has rais'd the Ghost of Pleasure to my fears Conjur'd the sense of Honour and of Love into such Shapes they fright me from my self I dare not think of them Servant goes out I 'll call you when I want you Nurse Enters Nurse Madam the Gentleman 's below Isa. I had forgot pray let me speak with him Exit Nurse This Ring was the first Present of my Love to Biron my first Husband I must blush to think I have a second Biron Dy'd still to my loss at Candy there 's my hope O! Do I live to hope that he Dy'd there It must be so He 's Dead and this Ring left by his last breath to some known faithful Friend to bring me back again Biron introduc'd Nurse retires That 's all I have to trust to My fears were Womans I have view'd him all And let me let me say it to my self I live again and rise but from his Tomb. Bir. Have you forgot me quite Isa. Forgot you Bir. Then farewel my Disguise and my Misfortunes My Isabella He goes to her she shrieks and falls into a swoon Isa. Ha! Bir. O! come again Thy Biron summons thee to Life and Love once I had Charms to wake thee Thy once lov'd ever loving Husband calls Thy Biron speaks to thee Isa. My Husband Biron Bir. Excess of Love and Joy for my return Has over-power'd her I was to blame To take thy Sexes softness unprepar'd But sinking thus thus Dying in my Arms This extasie has made my welcom more Than words cou'd say Words may be Counterfeit False Coyn'd and Current only from the Tongue Without the Mind but Passion 's in the Soul And always speaks the Heart Isa. Where have I been Why do you keep him from me I know his Voice My Life upon the Wing Hears the soft lure that brings me back again 'T is he himself my Biron the dear
the bright Sun to smile upon the Day Isa. I cou'd have wish'd if you had thought it fit Our Marriage had not been so publick Vil. Do not you grudge me my excess of Love That was a cause it could not be conceal'd Besides 't would injure the Opinion I have of my good Fortune having you And lessen it in other Peoples thoughts Busie on such occasions to enquire Had it been private Isa. I have no more to say Carlos Frederick Victoria other Men and Women enter Vil. Our Friends too who come in to the support Of our bad Fortune have an honest right In better times to share the good with us Car. We come to claim that right to share your joy Fred. To wish you joy and find it in our selves For a Friends happiness reflects a warmth A kindly comfort into every heart That is not envious Vil. He must be a Friend Who is not envious of a happiness So absolute as mine but if you are As I have reason to believe you are Concern'd for my well-being there 's the cause Thank her for what I am and what must be Vict. Is not this better than lying alone Madam Car. You 'l take my advice another time Sister Fred You Ladies are hard to be persuaded to please Your selves but you know when you are well I hope Car When you are well pleas'd he means Sister You are a Judge and within the degrees Of comparison having had a Husband before Isa. turns away Vil. Carlos what have you done A rising smile stole from her thoughts just redning on her Cheek and you have dasht it Car. I am sorry for 't Vil. My best friends will forgive me when I own I must prefer her Peace to all the world Pray let us bury every thing that 's past look forward to the kindly coming hour I have a prospect of sufficient Joy wou'd you had all to entertain your hopes and draw you on to everlasting Love Enter Fernando Julia and Fabian Fern. Why so so all goes well I see Wish you Joy Cosin I am an Old Fellow but I must salute your Bride Kisses her A fine Woman truly I have had two or three Glasses to her Health already I design to be very merry ha Vil. Why so you shall Cosin fill some Wine To servants Fern. Why that 's well said fill some Wine But one word with you Jul. I did not know you at first Vict. If my Father does not I shall have the pleasure of teazing him Jul. Your Brother has taken care that he shall know no body Fern. If you had consulted me I could have told you Vil. What Cousin Fern. Why that there goes a great deal of pains to keep a handsom Wife to ones self remember I told you so Vil. Take care of your own Cousin Fern. Why that 's true too Sees Victoria with Julia Where are you how what have you to do with this Gentle-woman Friend Vict. I wou'd have something to do with her if you wou'd let us alone Fer. 'T is pity to disturb you indeed Vict. ' Gad so Sir I beg your pardon Bowing to Fernando Fer. No harm done in the least Sir Vict. You look like a civil Person Fer. O a very civil Person Vict. You may have an Interest in the Lady to speak a good word for me Fer. VVhy so I may I may speak a good word for you indeed But for your comfort I can tell you she has the Grace never to mind what I say to her Vict. Then do me the courtesie to leave us together and I shall be able to speak for my self Fer. I never doubted it Vict. I suppose you may be her Grandfather 't is your business you know to provide for your Family Fer. And why her Grandfather pray Vict. Because you look to be about those years of discretion Fer. Come you are an idle Companion to talk at this rate to my VVife and before my face too Vict. How Sir your VVife is she your VVife Sir Fer. I am her Husband Sir Vict. I beg your pardon again Sir I was in hopes Fer. I know you were you were in hopes to make me a Cuckold But you are an impudent Fellow for your hopes and so get you gone about your business Ha! what 's the matter with me Jul. VVhy Husband what 's the matter Fer. I am so drowsie all on the sudden Yawns Vil. The Glass stays for you Fernando Fer. I 'll Drink no more VVife let us go home Fred. One Glass to the Bride Sir Fer. O are you there You have a Daughter of mine in keeping I take it wish you Joy of her Yawns Fred. Your wishes will go a great way to 't Sir Fer. No farther Yawns they will go no farther I tell you VVife VVife let us be going VVife Sure I am Enchanted Yawns Vil. Come come Fernando you will take your Daughter into favour I know Fer. Pray give me leave Yawns Car. To depart in Peace Fer. VVhat I ought to do Yawns and falls into a Chair Vict. VVe shall know when he rises Vil. I leave you to consider it Fred. Upon his Pillow Fer. VVife VVife come along with me Fab. I 'll take care of my Father take no notice but come as soon as you can to me Fabian has Fernando carry'd off in a Chair Car. Now Madam I may take care of you To Julia. Fred. VVhat have we here Vil. Something is well meant Let us receive it so Pray sit my Friends An Entertainment of Dancing after which a Song sent by an unknown hand set by Mr. Henry Purcell and Sung by Mrs. Ayliff I. I Sigh'd and own'd my Love Nor did the Fair my Passion disapprove A soft engaging Air Not often apt to cause Despair Declar'd she gave attention to my Pray'r She seem'd to pity my Distress And I expected nothing less Than what her every look does now confess II. But Oh her change destroys The Charming prospect of my promis'd Joys She 's Rob'd of every Grace That argu'd pity in her Face And cold forbidding frowns supply their place But while she strives to chill desire Her brighter Eyes such warmth inspire She checks the flame but cannot quench the fire Vil. You have not minded this poor Pageantry Isa. I minded what you said you are to leave me I 'm sorry for the cause Vil. O cou'd I think Cou'd I perswade my self that your concern For me or for my absence had employed you But you are all possess'd another way I shall be Jealous of this Rival Grief That you indulge it sits so near your Heart There is not room enough for mighty Love Servant whispers Vil. We come You Carlos Will act a Brothers part till my return And be the Guardian here All all I have That 's dear to me I give up to your care Our Dinner calls upon us wou'd I had An Entertainment that cou'd speak my Joy And thanks to this kind company Lead on Long suff'ring Lovers wou'd consent to
sav'd me from the hands of Murderers Wou'd you had not for Life 's my greatest plague And then of all the World you are the Man I wou'd not be oblig'd to Isabella I came to fall before thee I had dy'd Happy not to have found your Villeroy here A long farewel and a last parting Kiss Kisses her Vil. A Kiss Confusion It must be your last Draws Bir. I know it must here I give up that Death You but delay'd Since what is past has been The work of Fate thus we must finish it Thrust home be sure Falls down Vil. Alas he faints Some help there Bir. This Letter is my last last Dying care Give it my Father Dyes Vil. He 's gone Let what will be the consequence I 'll give it him I have involv'd my self And wou'd be clear'd that must be thought on now My care of her is lost in wild amaze Going to Isa. Are you all Dead within there Where where are you Exit Isabella comes to her self Isa. Where have I been methinks I stand upon The brink of Life ready to shoot the Gulph That lies between me and the Realms of Rest But still detain'd I cannot pass the Streight Deny'd to live and yet I must not Dye Doom'd to come back like a complaining Ghost To my Unburied Body Here it lies Throws her self by Birons body My Body Soul and Life A little Dust To cover our cold Limbs in the dark Grave Then then we shall sleep safe and sound together Enter Villeroy with Servants Vil. Poor wretch Upon the Ground She 's not her self Remove her from the Body Servants going to raise her Isa. Never never You have Divorc'd us once but shall no more Help help me Biron Ha! Bloody and Dead O Murder Murder You have done this Deed Vengeance and Murder Bury us together Do any thing but part us Vil. Gently gently raise her She must be forc'd away She drags the Body after her they get her into their Arms and carry her off Isa. O they tear me Cut off my Hands Let me leave something with him They 'll clasp him fast O cruel cruel Men This you must answer one Day Vil. Good Nurse take care of her Nurse follows her Send for all helps All all that I am worth Shall cheaply buy her Peace of Mind again Besure you do To a Servant Just as I order'd you The Storm grows loud Knocking at the Door I am prepar'd for it now let them in Enter Count Baldwin Carlos Bellford Frederick with Servants C. Bald. O do I live to this Unhappy day Where is my wretched Son Car. Where is my Brother They see and gather about the Body Vil. I hope in Heaven Car. Can'st thou pity him Wish him in Heaven When thou hast done a Deed That must for ever cut thee from the hopes Of ever coming there Vil. I do not blame you You have a Brothers Right to be concern'd For his untimely Death Car. Untimely Death indeed Vil. But yet you must not say I was the cause Car. Not you the cause why who shou'd Murder him We do not ask you to accuse your self But I must say that you have Murder'd him And will say nothing else till Justice draws Upon our side at the loud call of Blood To execute so foul a Murderer Bell. Poor Biron Is this thy welcom home Fred. Rise Sir there is a comfort in Revenge Which yet is left you To C. Baldwin Car. Take the Body hence Biron carry'd off C. Bald. What cou'd provoke you Vil. Nothing could provoke me To a base Murder which I find you think Me guilty of I know my Innocence My Servants too can Witness that I dâ—ew My Sword in his Defence to Rescue him Bell. Let the Servants be call'd Fred. Let 's hear what they can say Car. What they can say Why what shou'd Servants say They 're his Accomplices his Instruments And won not charge themselves If they cou'd do A Murder for his Service they can lye Lye nimbly and swear hard to bring him off You say you drew your Sword in his Defence Who were his Enemies Did he need Defence Had he wrong'd any one Cou'd he have a cause To apprehend a danger but from you And yet you Rescu'd him No no he came Unseasonably that was all his Crime Unluckily to interrupt your sport You were new Marry'd Marry'd to his Wife And therefore you and she and all of you For all of you I must believe concern'd Combin'd to Murder him out of the way Bell. If it be so Car. It can be only so Fred. Indeed it has a Face Car. As black as Hell C. Bald. The Law will do me Justice Send for the Magistrate Car. I 'll go my self for him Exit Vil. These strong Presumptions I must own indeed Are violent against me but I have A Witness and on this side Heav'n too Fred. What cries are those The Scene opens shows Pedro on a Rack Vil. Open that Door Here 's one can tell you all Ped. All all Take me but from the Rack I 'll confess all I can hold out no longer Vil. You and your Accomplices design'd To Murder Biron Speak Ped. We did Vil. Did you engage upon your private wrongs Or were employ'd Ped. He never did us wrong Vil. You were set on then Ped. O! we were set on Vil. What do you know of me Ped. Nothing nothing You sav'd his Life and have discovered me Vil. Take him down C. Bald. Hold. Vil. He has acquitted me If you wou'd be resolv'd of any thing He stands upon his answer C. Bald. Who set you on to act this horrid Deed Ped. Kill me outright let all the guilt be mine C. Bald. I 'll know the Villain give me quick his Name Or I will tear it from thy bleeding Heart Pull hard Rack Torture him Ped. O! I confess C. Bald. Do then Ped. It was my Master Carlos your own Son C. Bald. O Monstrous Monstrous most Unnatural Fred. Did he employ you to Murder his own Brother Ped. He did and he was with us when 't was done C. Bald. If this be true which is impossible It is but Just upon me Birons wrongs Must be reveng'd and I the cause of all Fred. VVhat will you do with him C. Bald. Now take him down Pedro taken from the Rack I know too much Vil. I had forgot Your wretched dying Son Gave me this Letter for you Gives it to Baldwin I dare deliver it If it speaks of me I pray to have it read C. Bald. You know the hand Bell. I know 't is Biron's hand C. Bald. Pray Read it Bellford reads the Letter SIR I find I am come home only to lay my Death at your Door I am now going out of the World but cannot forgive you nor my Brother Carlos for not hindring my poor Wife Isabella from Marrying with Villeroy when you both knew from so many Letters that I was alive BIRON Vil. How Did you know it then C. Bald. Amazement